I'm sick of the marathon and marathon culture!

I am sorry bro. It looks like you are ageing out of the track and you are not flexible enough to convert to road races. Keep bi tching and complaining.
In 10 years you will be just another former track guy with a beer belly.

Sounds like you might just have some personal problems that you’re attributing to the marathon. Good luck.

I can see why someone who doesn’t run Marathons would get annoyed at this time of year when running seems to be all about the ‘thon. Don’t worry. When mid November arrives and Marathoners no longer have a purpose in life, it’ll be your time to shine.👍

Mid-distance guy writes marathon-length post to disparage marathons and marathoners.

this is brilliant

Ironically, the Marathon only comprises about 4% of total race finishers in the U.S. The most popular event by far being the 5K followed by the Half.

The Marathon just seems more popular because the Majors are on TV and get a lot of fanfare. It also requires an extended training block and Marathoners tend to go on about it ad nauseam.

Btw, I’m running in the NYC Marathon as a time qualifier. Did I let that slip out?😂

They're doing great work at mental institutions these days

I can’t tell if you are trolling or real, so you were an inconsequential track runner complaining about inconsequential road runner’s, running a race which is a value / challenge to the actual runner but which is meaningless to the wider community?

It's not your thing. There's nothing wrong with it. No reason for the grumpie reactions. Maybe there's other distances that don't get the attention they deserve, but no need to disparage one that does. If they enjoy it, good for them.

Perhaps it's time for you to give Ironman a tri.

In the near future completion of a marathon by age 30 will become mandatory as part of a national fight against obesity.

I shouldn't be disparaging, you're probably right. Evidently it's an event that a lot of people find meaning in and get motivated for. I just feel strongly that the whole focus and culture around the marathon isn't what running should be about and I wouldn't be able to feel genuine doing something that's so packaged. Like it really baffles me how so many people hold the marathon up as this big achievement when it's so widely participated in.

I've run a lot of races on the track, roads, and cross country and the ones that stick with me the most have never given me a finishers medal or a jacket or any of that crap. What running gives you is an experience, digging into your guts and handing the clock a big lumpy mass of effort and the clock looks it over, chews it up, and spits out a time that says how good you did. That's running to me. Maybe if you're lucky there's a $50 gift card to the local running shop too.

I guess you can do that in a marathon too but it's just so over produced I just couldn't deal. For something that I've enjoyed and participated in in such a personal way, it just feels weird to have so much ancillary BS going on. I'll be shot out the back of the last heat of the all-comers meet, beer gut and all, any day over being draped in space blanket while my family/friends try to pretend I didn't crap my pants a few times.

It's still something less than 1% of the population has done. I know it isn't that hard just to finish, but it's still an achievement compared to the general population.

the entry fees for them tend to be a lot. What's with that?

I know what's with it, but if i were to grouse about something...

I have the endurance to run a marathon, but not enough to read the OPs rant.

People with 13.1 stickers really get me riled up. You didnt even complete/attempt the whole thing. No one celebrates getting halfway up Everest

It's all masses of non-fast people got. There is marathon culture and the rest of T&F. 90% of marathon runners have absolute not care for T&F unless it involves Kipchoge. They don't even know the epic race where Kipchoge ran down El G and Bekle.

you mad bro?

do your own thing and maybe ease up with your envy scrolling on social media

This is your problem right here. Shift your perspective, try to be generous that others have found joy in being active (and ignore the narcissists, the IG influencers, the fuel belts). You can still love mid-distance--there's enough room in the tent for everybody.